NAC449.3154. Construction, remodeling, maintenance and change of use: General requirements; prerequisites to approval of licensure.

     1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a hospital shall comply with the provisions of NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, adopted by reference pursuant to NAC 449.0105.

     2. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any new construction, remodeling or change in the use of a hospital must comply with the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospital and Health Care Facilities, adopted by reference pursuant to NAC 449.0105, unless the remodeling is limited to refurbishing an area of the hospital, including, without limitation, painting the area, replacing the flooring in the area, repairing windows in the area and replacing window or wall coverings in the area.

     3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, a hospital shall meet all applicable:

     (a) Federal and state laws;

     (b) Local ordinances, including, without limitation, zoning ordinances; and

     (c) Life safety, environmental, health, fire and local building codes,

Ê related to the construction and maintenance of the hospital. If there are any differences between the state and local codes, the more restrictive standards apply.

     4. A hospital which is inspected and approved by the State Public Works Division of the Department of Administration in accordance with the provisions set forth in chapter 341 of NRS and chapter 341 of NAC is not required to comply with any applicable local building codes related to the construction and maintenance of the hospital.

     5. A complete copy of the building plans for new construction and remodeling of a hospital, drawn to scale, must be submitted to the entity designated to review such plans by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health pursuant to the provisions of NAC 449.0115. Before the construction or remodeling may begin, plans for the construction or remodeling must be approved by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health.

     6. The Bureau shall not approve the licensure of a hospital until all construction has been completed and a survey is conducted at the site. The plan review is only advisory and does not constitute prelicensing approval.

     7. Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a hospital which was licensed on January 1, 1999, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section if the use of the physical space in the hospital does not change and the existing construction of the hospital does not have any deficiencies which are likely to cause serious injury, serious harm or impairment to public health and welfare.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R050-99, eff. 9-27-99; A by R076-01, 10-18-2001; R068-04, 8-4-2004)